The Role of Colleges and Universities in Disaster Reduction Kocaeli ’99 Emergency Management Conference Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul Turkey January 2003 B.Wayne Blanchard, Ph.D., CEM Emergency Management Higher Education Project Manager Federal Emergency Management Agency National Emergency Training Center, Emergency Management Institute Emmitsburg, Maryland

2 Disasters And The U.S. l Large and Growing Range of Hazards l Disaster Losses Are Enormous l Significantly Escalating Last Four Decades l Projected to Become Worse l U.S. Becoming More Vulnerable l No Light At The End Of The Tunnel

“The Time Has Come For A New National Approach To Natural Hazards” (Congressional Natural Hazards Caucus, Jan 2001)

4 Implications l Hazards Produce Disaster Experience l Disaster Experience = Lessons Learned l Lessons Learned = Prescriptions l We Basically Know What To Do l Losses Nonetheless Escalating l Current Hazard Approaches Inadequate l Need Redesigned Approach

5 Framework For Role of Colleges and Universities In Disaster Reduction l Generate New Knowledge l Transfer Knowledge l Advocacy l Community Service l Setting Positive Example

6 Generate Knowledge l Conduct Research l Organize and Systematize Knowledge l Provide Critique, Evaluation, Analysis l Reach Out to Broad Range of Disciplines, i.e., Break Out of Disciplinary Straightjackets l Redefine Scholarship to Include Both Basic and Applied Research and Professional Service

7 Conduct Research l Hazard/Disaster Technology l Risk Assessment l Risk Management l Cost-Effective Mitigation Measures l Communication of Disaster Risk l Hazards Public Policy Implementation

8 Transfer Knowledge (Audiences) l Emergency/Disaster Managers l Hazard/Disaster Communities l Key Professions and Disciplines l Policy and Decision-Makers l The Public l K-12 l College Students (Grad and Undergrad)

Emergency Management College Programs by Year Wisc TESC RIT UNT Project Begins UC- Berk------

10 EM Degree Programs 2003 l 83 College Emergency Mgmt. Programs –35 Certificates, Minors or Diplomas –11 Associate Degrees – 8 Bachelor Degrees –22 Masters Programs – 7 Doctoral-Level Programs

11 Projected Collegiate Program Growth l ~100 Programs Under Investigation –36 at Associate Degree Level –38 at Bachelor Level –22 at Graduate Level

12 Transfer Knowledge (Tools) l Educational Courses and Programs l Training l Workshops l Conferences l Presentations l Consulting l Publications (Other Than Academic/Technical) l Internet l I.e., Become a Hazards Knowledge Hub – Venue for Reliable and Accessible Scientific Information

13 Advocacy l Leader in Disaster Prevention Culture l Foster Change -- Create Infrastructure/Culture Necessary for Engagement l Develop Courses that Promote Engagement l Lend Credibility to Hazard Reduction Measures l Bring Practitioners and Researchers Together l Find Effective Ways to Phrase the Message l New Ways to Reach Policy/Decision Makers l Cultivate “Savvy” Media

14 Community Service l Be Proactive Local, Regional, National, International Citizen l Partner and Network with Stakeholders l Engage With Local Community –Plan, Train and Exercise Together –Citizen Emergency Response Teams l Create Student Service Learning Opportunities l Develop Systems of Accountability for Engagement Activities

15 Set Positive Example l Walk The Talk – Do What Is Advocated l Coordinate, Partner, Collaborate, Network, Share l Become a Disaster Resistant University –Conduct University Risk Assessment –Develop Hazards Risk Management Program –Network, Coordinate and Communicate –Disaster Resistant New Construction –Retrofit of Existing Structures –Soft (Non-Structural) Mitigation

16 Results? l Enhanced Understanding of Hazards and Relationship to Political, Social, Cultural, Economic Environments l Enhanced Disaster Response and Management l Recognition that Disaster Reduction is Feasible l Enhanced Ability to Communicate Risk Effectively l Enhanced Commitment to Disaster Reduction l Reinforced Political Will l Disaster Reduction Integrated and Mainstreamed l Movement from Reactive Response to Proactive Prevention l Creation of Culture of Disaster Prevention

17 Education is Key l “…although knowledge does not guarantee power over natural catastrophe, it is a prime requisite of disaster prevention.” (Alexander 2000, 249) l “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” (H.G. Wells)